Traveler for pipes or conduits.



Patented Sept. 5, 1899.

L. C. KOHLEB. TRAVELER FOB PIPES 0R CONDUITS.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1898.;

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Patented Sept. 5, I899. c. xonu-zn. TRAVELER FUR PIPES 0B CUNDUITS.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1898.)

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(N0 Model.)

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UNlTED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

LOUIS C. KOIILER, OF MlLl/VAUKEE, VISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO F.G. STOVER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRAVELER FOR P |PES OR CONDUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,353, datedSeptember 5, 1899.

Application filed November 21, 1898. Serial No. 697,021. (No model.)

T on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS O. KOHLER, of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and cation.

My invention has relation to improvements in travelers for pipes orconduits.

The invention is especially intended as a means for carrying telegraphor telephone wires through underground pipes or conduits, thedevicebeing adapted to travel through said pipes or conduits and to drawwith it a cord to which the wire may be attached or to draw with it thewire attached directly to the traveler.

The present invention is an improvement upon the form of travelercovered in the United States Letters Patent issued to me under date ofMarch 1, 1898, No. 599,713, which patent covers a pneumatic travelerwhich is dependent for successful operation upon pneumatic pressure,either by producing a vacuum in front' of it or by compressed air actingon it at the rear.

It is the primary object of my present invention to dispense entirelywith the necessity of producing a vacuum in the pipe or conduit in frontof the traveler or of the necessity of compressed air acting against thetraveler at the rear, the traveler in this form of construction beingadapted to travel solely by mechanical power.

Vith the above primary object in view the invention consists of thedevices and parts or their equivalents, ashereinafter more fully setforth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entiremachine, with the exception'of the head portion at the forward endthereof, which is shown as broken away. portion of the machine, showingthe forward head-piece as anchored and the slide as in the act of movingforwardly. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rear portion of the machine,being a continuation of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a side elevation Fig. 2 is a plan view of the forward atoggle-joint 23.

of Fig. 3, beinga continuation of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an inverted planview of the forward portion of the machine, showing the slide asanchored and the machine as in the act of moving forwardly in the pipeor conduit. Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of the rear portion of themachine, being a continuation of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a cross-section onthe line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the machine on aplane through the releasing-pin. Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line10 10 of 'Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a cross-section on the line 11 ll of Fig.6. Fig. 12 is a cross-section on the line 12 12 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 13is an edge view of the rear guide, the bars being in section.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 14 14' indicate two longitudinalbars, the under bar 14 being preferably extended at the rear end of themachine a somewhat greater distance than the upper bar 14. Both of thesebars are preferably and advisably made of flexible spring metal, therebyrendering the device capable of being readily inserted into a pipe orconduit and also readily enabling the device to travel through pipes ofirregular conformation, the spring material enabling the device toascend inclines in the pipe or to descend declines or to travel aroundbends. To the forward extremity of the upper bar 14 is connected a head-pieee 15. This headpiece is formed or provided with an intermediateyoke portion 16, the sides of said yoke forming inclined or cam surfaces17 1'7. The forward extremity of the yoke is formed with a projection18, having an elongated slot .therein, in which slot is arranged aroller 19,

mounted on an axial pin. The rear portion of the head-piece is alsoslotted, as indicated at 20, and in this slot is arranged a sheave orpulley 21. On its upper side the rear portion of the head-piece isformed with an upwardlyextending arch-shaped projection extending overthe slot 20 and forming a rope-guide 21.

Adapted to work against the inclined or cam surfaces 17 17 are rollers22 22. These rollers are carried at the ends of the links of There areadvisably two links to each toggle-joint section, one link of eachsection being above the yoke portion of the head-piece and one link ofeach section being below the yoke portion of the headpiece. The rollers22 are carried between the outer ends of these links, and said outerends of the links are extended snfliciently outwardlyto enable therollers to bear against the cam or inclined surfaces. The inner ends ofthese links are connected by a pivot-pin 243, and to this pivot-pin isconnected one end of a coiled spring 25, the opposite end of said coiledspring being connected to the head portion. To the axial pins of therollers 22 are connected other links 26 26, said links extending andconverging rearwardly on the under side of the machine and beingconnected at their rear converging ends to the forward extremity of theunder flexible bar 14. A sleeve 27 is secured to the under bar let, nearthe forward end of said bar, and the upper bar 14 is adapted to passfreely through this sleeve. The sleeve serves the function of assistingin holding the bars against separation.

The numeral 28 indicates a slide, said slide being formed or provided atopposite ends with downwardly -extending loops 29 29", through whichloops the two bars 14: 14: are adapted to pass freely. The sides of therear loop 29' are extended downwardly, as clearly.

shown in the drawings, and between these downwardly-extended sides isjournaled a roller 30. The slide 28 is also formed with a yoke portion31, the sides of said yoke portion being formed with inclined or camedges 32 32. Adapted to bear against these inclined or cam edges arerollers 33 33, said rollers carried at the outer ends of the links of atoggle-joint 34. The sections of this toggle-joint are also preferablyand advisably each formed of two links, the upper links bearing againstthe upper side of the yoke and the lower links against the lower side ofthe yoke. The outer ends of these links carry the rollers 33, and saidends of the links, as in the case of the toggle-joint 23, are extendedoutwardly a suficient distance to permit the rollers 33, which arejournaled therebetween, to bear against the inclined or cam edges 32.The sets of links are connected together at their inner ends by 'apivot-pin 35. To this pivot-pin is connected one end of a coiled spring36, the opposite end of said coiled spring being connected to theforward end of the slide. To the axial pins of the rollers 33 areconnected otherlinks 3'7 37. These links are extended and convergedrearwardly, and their rear converged ends are connected to a sleeve 38,which loosely surrounds the two bars 14 14:. The rear portion of theslide 28 is formed or provided on its upper side with a pulley-box 39,within which is arranged a pulley or sheave 40, mounted on a verticalaxis.

Secured fast to the rear end of the upper bar 14 is a guide ll.This'guide is formed with a slot 42, in which slot both the bars 1-1 and14 extend. The bar 1 1, however, is rigidly secured in said slot, whilethe bar 14 passes loosely therethrough and may be extended rearwardlyfor a desired distance. This guide is provided with upwardlyextendingside members 43 43, and a transverse pin 14 extends across and connectsthe side members. A short stud or lug 45 extends upwardly from the upperside of the guide to the transverse pin 4.4. and forms two spaces 46.4:6. The under side of the guide is provided with downwardly-extendingcars 47 e7, between which is mounted a roller 48. A rope 4:9 isconnected at one end to the transverse pin hi1: on one side of the studor lug 4:5, and this rope is extended forwardly to and around the sheave4C0, carried by the slide 28. It is thence extended rcarwardly andthrough one of the spaces i6 of the guide 41. The numeral 50 indicatesanother rope, which is connected to the forward end of the slide 28. 7It is then extended forwardly into the guide 21', thence around thesheave or pulley 21, thence beneath the machine and between thedownwardly-extending sides of loop 29 of slide 28, thence continuedrearwardly and between the downwardly-extending ears 47 17 of the guide11. Another rope 51 may, if desired, be connected to the rear end of theunder-bar 14:. I prefer to mount in lugs extending out laterally fromthe forward portion or the headpiece 15 rollers 52 52, which rollers areprojected out a sufficient distance to extend laterally a greaterdistance than the rollers carried by either of the toggle-joints whensaid rollers of the toggle-j oin ts are forced inwardly on theirinclined or cam surfaces. This provision of the rollers 52 is made sothat said rollers, if the machine should tilt in the pipe or in case themachine is passing around a curve, will engage the sides of the pipe orconduit instead of the rollers carried by the toggle-joints when saidrollers of the togglejoints are not in their working positions.

In Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 7 I show the machine as arranged within a pipeorconduit, said pipe or conduit being shown by dotted lines andindicated by the numeral 53.

In the operation of the invention, in the first place, the rope 5 ispulled. This has the effect of causing the slide 28 to travel forwardlyin the pipe or conduit. The pull on the rope 50 is continued until theslide has reached the limit of its forward travel. At the time of thisforward travel of the slide the rollers 22 are at the farthest lateralpoint of the inclined or camsurfaces 17, as indicated in Fig. 2, andhence the head-piece 17 and the bars 14 14 are anchored or held againstforward movement. The next step is to pull on the rope 4:9. This pullexerts a rearward strain on the slide 28, and thus thrusts the rollers33 bf said slide outwardly on the farthest points of the cam surfaces 37and against the sides of the pipe or conduit, so as to wedge and therebygrip and anchor the slide firmly against movement. As the slidetherefore on the pulling of the rope 4-9 is held stationary the end ofthe rope i9 which is attached to the pin 44 of the guide 41, said guidebeing firmly attached to the bar 14, will cause the two bars 14 14 totravel forwardly and also the head-piece 15, said headpiece traveling onthe roller 19 and the bars on the rollers 30 and 48. As the head-pieceis moved forwardly the contact of the sides of the conduit with therollers 22 has a tendency to throw said rollers rearwardly on theinnermost points of the cam or inclined surfaces 17, thereby ungrippingthe rollers and preventing the same from offering any obstruction to theforward movement of the machine. After the machine has moved forwardly,as just explained, the rope 50 is again pulled. This efiects arearwardstrain on the head-piece 15, and consequently grips the rollers 22 tothe sides of the conduit, and thereby anchors the head-piece, aspreviously explained, while at the same time the slide 28 is pulledforwardly to its full extent, after which the rope 49 is againmanipulated, so as to force the machine forward. These operations arerepeated until the machine has traveled through the pipe or conduit.

The springs 25 and 36 of the respective toggle-joints 23 and 34 effectthe function of holding the rollers 22 and 33 yieldingly in engagementwith the sides of the conduit. The ropes 49 and 50 are preferably ofsufficient length to enable the wire to be connected thereto after themachine has completed its travel through the conduit, whereby the Wiremay be readily pulled through the conduit from one end bya pull on therope at the opposite end of the conduit.

It will sometimes happen that the machine in its travel through aconduit will meet with obstructions which would necessitate thewithdrawing of the machine. If no provision were provided therefor, thiscould not be accomplished, as the rearward pulling of the machine wouldcause both sets of rollers 22 and 33 to be thrown outwardly against thesides of the conduit, and hence firmly Wedge the machine in the conduit.In order to guard against this, I provide releasing mechanism consistingof the bar 14, having a lug 54 extending downwardly from the under sidethereof, which lug is adapted to be used in connection with the sleeve38, which loosely surrounds the under bar 14. In the operation of thisreleasing mechanism if the slide 28 is not already at the forward limitof its movement a pull is exerted on the rope 50 and said slide therebycaused to move forwardly. A pull is then exerted on the rope 51. Thiswill cause a sliding rearward of said rod 14, and as said rod isconnected at its forward end to the links 26 a pull is necessarilyexerted on said links, and the rollers 22 are brought to the positionshown in Fig. 6, where they bear against the innermost points of thecam-surfaces 17 and are consequently free from contact with the sides ofthe conduit. After this unclutching of the rollers 22 is effected thecontinued pull on the rope 51 will cause both bars 14 14 to be movedrearwardly while the slide 28 is still anchored, and this movement willcontinue until the lug 54 of the under bar 14 contacts with the sleeve38. This will cause a rearward movement of said sleeve, and as the links37 are connected to the sleeve said links will pull the rollers 33rearwardly to the innermost points of the cam-surfaces 32 and therebybring said rollers out of wedging contact with the sides of the conduit,Both sets of rollers 22 and 33 are now released, so that the continuedpull on the rope 51 will pull the entire machine rearwardly out of theconduit. In order to provide for the lug 54 passing the forward guide 29of the slide 28, said guideis provided-with a downwardly-extending slot55, which permits of the passage of the lug therethrough. Of course inpulling the machine back in the manner just described the slack in theropes 49 and 50 should be continuously taken up in order to avoidtangling and twisting of said ropes.

While it is preferable that the machine should be employed merely forcarrying the ropes through the conduit, and after the machine hascompleted its travel through the conduit to attach the wire to the ropesand then pull the wire through, yet, if preferred, the wire can beattached directly to the machine. In fact, if the wire is not too stiffit could be attached directly to the rear end of the under bar 14instead of attaching the rope 51 thereto, and this wire could be usedfor pulling the machine rearwardly in order to operate the releasingmechanism when necessity should require the removal of the machine onaccount of obstructions in the pipe or conduit or for other reasons.

It is obvious that the feature of the releasing mechanism hereinbeforedescribed can be omitted from myinvention, and in such case it is notabsolutely necessary to provide the longitudinal bar 14; but in lieuthereof any form of sliding part can be provided for the connectionthereto of the links 26 26, and this sliding part, therefore, instead ofbeing the long bar 14, may, for instance, be merely a sleeve looselysurrounding the bar 14 (similar' to the sleeve 38, to which the links 34are attached) and capable of sliding on the bar, and to which sleeve thelinks 26 should be connected. It is obvious that such construction wouldeffect all the functions of my machine with the exception of thereleasing operation. When it is desired, however, to provide a machinewith means for releasing the gripping mechanisms in order that theentire machine may be pulled backward through the pipe or conduit, Iprovide the long bar 14 or its equivalent and the other devices inconnection therewith, substantially as described, for accomplishing thereleasing function.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a traveler for pipes or conduits,the combination, of a longitudinal bar formed or provided at or near itsforward end with wedging-surfaces, gripping devices adapted to ride onsaid wedging-surfaces, a member carried by the bar and adapted to traveltherewith, but capable of having longitudinal movement on the barindependently of the movement of the bar, connections between saidmember and the gripping device, a slide mounted on the bar and capableof traveling thereon independently of the bar, said slide formed orprovided with wedging-surfaces, gripping devices adapted to ride on saidwedging-surfaces, a sleeve or other sliding member on the bar,connections between said sleeve and the gripping devices, means forcausing the forward travel of the slide, and means for causing theforward travel of the bar.

2. In a traveler for pipes or conduits, the combination of longitudinalbars adapted to travel in a pipe or conduit, one of said bars formed orprovided at or near its forward end with wedging-surfaces, and the otherbar formed or provided with a projecting lug or detent, gripping devicesadapted to ride on the wedging-surfaces of one of the bars, connectionsbetween said gripping devices and the other bar, a slide mounted on thebars and capable of travel thereon independently of the bars, said slideformed or provided with wedging-surfaces, a sleeve or other slidingmember on the bars, connections between said sleeve or sliding memberand the slide, means for causing the forward travel of the slide, meansfor causing the forward travel of the bars, and means for pullingrearwardly the bar carrying the detent.

3. In a traveler for pipes or conduits, the combination, of alongitudinal bar formed or provided at or near its forward end with camor inclined surfaces, a toggle-joint, the links thereof carrying attheir ends rollers which are adapted to work against the inclined or camsurfaces of the bar, a member carried by the bar and adapted to traveltherewith but capable of havinglongitudinal movement on the barindependently of the movement of said bar, links connecting thetogglejoint with the member carried by the bar, a slide mounted on thebar and capable of travel thereon independently of the bar, said slideformed or provided with inclined or cam surfaces, a toggle-joint, thelinks thereof carrying at their ends rollers which are adapted to workagainst the inclined or cam surfaces of the slide, a sleeve or othersliding member on the bar, links connecting the last-referredtotoggle-joint with said sleeve or other sliding member, means for causingthe forward travel of the slide, and means for causing the forwardtravel of the bar.

4. In a traveler for pipes or conduits, the combination, of alongitudinal bar formed or provided at or near its forward end withinclined or cam surfaces, a spring-controlled their ends rollers whichare adapted to work against the inclined or cam surfaces of the bar, amember carried by the bar and adapted to travel therewith but capable ofhaving longitudinal movement on the bar independently of the movement ofsaid bar, links conmeeting the toggle-joint with the member carried bythe bar, a slide mounted on the bar and capable of travel thereonindependently of the bar, said slide formed or provided toggle-joint,the links thereof carrying at with inclined or cam surfaces, aspring-controlled toggle-joint, the links thereof carrying at their endsrollers which are adapted to work against the inclined or cam surfacesof the slide, a sleeve or other sliding member on the bar, linksconnecting the last-referred-to toggle-joint with said sleeve or othersliding part, means for causing the forward travel of the slide, andmeans for causing the forward travel of the bar.

5. In a traveler for pipes or conduits, the combination of longitudinalbars adapted to travel in a pipe or conduit, one of said bars formed orprovided at or near its forward end with inclined or cam surfaces, andthe other bar formed or provided with aprojecting lug or detent, atoggle-joint, the links thereof carrying at their ends rollers which areadapted to work against the inclined or cam surfaces of the bar, otherlinks connecting the toggle-joint links with the other bar, a slidemounted on the bars and capable of travel thereon independently of thebars, said slide formed or provided with inclined or cam surfaces, atoggle-join t, the links thereof carrying at their ends rollers whichare adapted to work against the inclined or cam surfaces of the slide, asleeve or other sliding member on the bars, links connecting thelast-referredto toggle-joint with said sleeve or sliding member, meansfor causing the forward travel of the slide, means for causing theforward travel of the bars, and means for pulling rearwardly the barcarrying the detent, the rearward pull of said bar acting first on thelinks connecting said bar with the links of the forward toggle-joint tothereby release the rollers of said toggle-joint from engagement withthe sides of the conduit, and the further pulling of the releasing-barcausing the lug or detent thereof to contact with the sleeve, whereby apull is exerted on said sleeve and on the links which are connectedthereto and to the toggle-joint of the slide, whereby the rollerscarried by said togglejoint of the slide are also released fromengagement with the sides of the conduit.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. LOUIS C. KOIILER.

Witnesses:

A. L. MORSELL, ANNA V. FAUST.

IIO

